2015-09-11 ECMC Rumblings

Empire City MC’s
Monthly Newsletter
September 2015
LOOP-THE-LAKE, 1500 MILES in 10 DAYS AROUND LAKE ONTARIO
Loop-The-Lake planning is complete. Various events have been added to the Empire City MC facebook calendar (which is where we'll track
all of the encapsulated events – not on our main events calendar). Clubs in Boston, Portland, Ottawa and Toronto have reached out to us
with interest.
Friday, 18th September we will descend upon Boston, MA. We’ll meet up the Bay State Marauders at the Boston Eagle Friday night, which,
from what I’ve been told, is thankfully once again a gay leather bar following the demise of anything even remotely resembling masculine men
at The Ramrod/Machine. As we ride to Boston we'll stop for lunch at Louis' Lunch (birthplace of the hamburger) and Dairy Freeze in
Quincy, MA!
On the afternoon of Saturday, 19th September we’ll enter Portland, ME home of the Harbour Masters of Maine. We’ve been invited to their
monthly meeting/pot-luck and their barnight at Blackstones! The next day, we’ll have brunch with some of their members and they'll ride with
us part of the way on our RIDE & HIKE: Kancamagus Scenic Byway & Sabbaday Falls Hike (perhaps some may stay the night at Gargoyle
House with us!) Sunday night, we’ll be in Vermont at the Gargoyle House is simply a wonderful place to relax and have fun. Check out
their website at www.gargoylehouse.com and let your hair down (as well as your trousers!)
On Monday, 21st September, we’ll cross into Canada and up to Montréal we go! It's been years since I've been to Montréal, so we'll play
this one by ear. The Iron Guard has been gone for some time, last I heard. If anyone has any suggestions, I’d love to hear them! The
next day, we’ll take the two-hour ride to Ottawa, the nation’s capitol!
Tuesday-Thursday, 22nd–24th September we’ll remain in Ottawa. The Ottawa Knights and the Ottawa Knight Riders have expressed interest in
handing out, and the Knight Riders want to join us on our RIDE: Parc de la Gatineau / Gatineau Park Ride which will be about two hour
ride (with stops) through some beautiful roads in Quebec! Did you happen to see my post on ECMC’s facebook group about our
accommodations in Ottawa? Yes, it's the HI-Ottawa Jail Hostel a former jail (closed in 1972).
On Friday, 25th September we head to Toronto. Although Spearhead Toronto LDSC’s 45th Anniversary Run has been demoted from an allinclusive run to various in-town a la carte events, including a BBQ, we’ll support them as best we can. We’ll be staying at our favourite
hotel, the Ramada Plaza Downtown (300 Jarvis St), which is located close to the gay-neighbourhood. There will be fun for all on this, our
second trip to Toronto in 2015!
When Sunday afternoon comes, we’ll head back to New York state, spending our last night on the road at Al & Dan's (The Ranch) as
we're regulars there. We'll probably order pizza and wings and hang out with Dan M and Albert until bedtime.
During our entire ride, you may track our progress (as always) at http://j.mp/locate-ECMC (note: this only tracks Chaz' mobile phone.
When I am out or carrier coverage area you might not see anything!)
CONGRATULATIONS TO EARL, OUR NEWEST FULL MEMBER!
Empire City MC has geographical restrictions in our constitution and bylaws for who can apply to be a
full member, and that’s 50- mils from Columbus Circle in Manhattan. Standard associate membership
begins from that point… however, if someone has a strong desire to be a full member and lives
outside that zone, we allow them to become an associate member and after one full year of attending
meetings and events just as a full member would. If they endure, they have the right to apply for full
membership. This associate to full membership has taken place three times in our club so far: Chaz A,
Gary P and as of last month, Earl D joins that club!
Congratulations to Earl D, our newest FULL MEMBER!
MEET THE MEMBER – “EVIL” ED
“Evil” Ed discovered
Empire City MC through
various events, including
ECMC’s annual Bike
Blessing and participation
at the Manhattan Gay
Pride March. He was
encouraged to join by the
longevity of the club (47
years when he joined in
June 2011) as well we
the brotherhood expressed
by the club and what the
group represented to the
public.
Ed started riding at a
young age when his
cousin joined the reserves
and left his 750cc motorcycle for d to play with. Ed self-taught himself how to
ride and was on the highway heading to the city on the highway within 24 hours!
The adrenaline rush and danger of riding a motorcycle drive his enjoyment of
riding; however, the freedom and solitude whilst riding are also appealing!
Ed jokes that he likes being an officer of Empire City MC as it lets him “boss
people around”, but he quickly puts on a serious face and points out that the
brotherhood of the
organisation is the most
important factor – also,
the appearance of the
club to the public as a
united force of strength
really means a lot.
As Evil Ed approaches the end of his second (and
last allowable consecutive) term as president, he
says that his biggest success story has to be the
year-long celebration of ECMC’s 50th Anniversary in
2014. Following this, he felt it was important for
the club to look inward in 2015 and allow the
members to “chill” after what was very active
anniversary year. He feels that his legacy is the
laying of the ground-word for future club presidents.
His dream bike is a fully-loaded, touring package,
Harley-Davidson and his dream rides would be
cross-country from NYC to Chicago to L.A. via
Route 66, as well as a west-coast ride up to
Vancouver, BC. He favourite rides since joining the
club has been our annual pilgrimage to Toronto,
Ontario in late August.
You might ask how a big teddy-bear like Ed got
the nickname “Evil” – well, he grins, if you rub
me the wrong way, you’ll find out!
BIKER FUNNY PAGES
TORONTO SPEARHEAD RUN
As mentioned in our Loop-the-Lake story on page 1, the 45th Anniversary of Spearhead LDSC has
been cancelled and events on the weekend reeled in significantly to a la carte events throughout the
weekend of 25-27th September.
Anyone who submitted a run application and run fee will be getting it back via post shortly.
Further information about weekend events, including their barbeque and weekend discounts will be on
their website at http://www.spearheadtoronto.com/MainPages/events.htm
This is just another example of the slow demise of the gay leather community. .
ECMC’S
ECMC’S TORONTO EXCURSION
In lieu of the Rochester Rams’ Run (which didn’t take place this
year), Empire City MC opted to take our annual pilgrimage to Toronto
over the weekend, rather than our traditional Sunday-Tuesday. We rode
out on Thursday with an over-night at Al & Dan's (The Ranch) in
Hemlock, then continued up to Toronto on Friday. All-in-all when
everyone checked in with us, we had about 20 people on the event,
including Dave P from Nottingham, England; K.K. from New York,
various locals such as Spearhead’s Randy & his husband, Pierre C,
Dennis and many more.
To our dismay, The Black Eagle (Toronto’s last leather bar) wasn’t a
gay men’s leather bar on Friday and Saturday. The place was full of
hipsters and straight women – most of us just rolled our eyes and
gave up, going to the Bear Night at O’Grady’s and Zippers. Also,
Leathercraft/Northbound Leather closed their Yonge St location, reducing
their floor space to just their “Northbound” side with obscure entrance
on the next alley over from Yonge St. Because Priape went into
receivership and closed their doors following the law banning “popper
sales” in Canada, “The Men’s Room” opened in the former and
interestingly enough, original Priape location above Woody’s. The Men’s
Room product lines reminded us of the original Priape but with the
addition of two barber chairs in the rear of the store where they
performed coiffure services for men. We also stopped in to Doc’s
Leathers on Queen St twice to buy some real biker leather outerwear!
On Saturday, thanks to Dave and Robyn, ECMC took our 3rd annual
yacht trip and picnic lunch to the clothing-optional Hanlan's Point Beach
with a nice group of friends. Although the water was chilly, the weather
couldn’t be better!
On Sunday, our group split up and we went to various places for brunch. Our
friends John & David from Geneseo, NY came along with K.K. and me for Dim
Sum brunch in One of Toronto’s five Chinatowns. Following that, we went shopping
on the trendy Queen St for clothing and such. Sunday night saw a return of
leather normality to the Black Eagle, but sadly to say, as a work-week night, it
never hit “critical mass”. It was such a personal disappointment for me to see
such a large city have their
leather community collapse.
On Monday, we had brunch at
Cora’s on College St. The
restaurant looked like Romper
Room on LSD, but the food was
far better than the Golden Girdle
up the street, which is (once
again) “under new management”
and is as bad as it’s ever been.
One last stop at Doc’s for Earl
to purchase a new vest before
heading back to The Ranch, then
back to NYC the next morning.
All-in-all, w had a great trip –
even if the city of Toronto isn’t
what it used to be. We’re
seriously considering Montréal,
Quebec instead of Toronto for
next year’s trip – not only is it
closer to NYC, we’ve heard
rumours that there are still leather
bars there! ☺
See all of our Toronto Trip photos in the photos
albums section of our facebook group, or just click here!
SUMMER’S END IS UPON US…
As the summer of 2015 winds down and we get ready to put the bikes to sleep, remember we’re still around! Consider inviting Empire City
MC to your home city for your club’s barnight, event or just to hang out! Reach out to our Vice President to make arrangements!
September 12th: RIDE: Six Flags Great Adventure! Join us for some roller-coaster thrills! E-mail us at ecmc@empirecitymc.com if interested.
(Rain date: 12th September)
September 18th-20th: RIDE: Rehoboth Beach/Ocean City Bike Week. Contact road-captain@empirecitymc.com if you want to come along!
September 18th-28th: RIDE: “Loop-the-Lake”, a 10-day, 1,500 mile ride around Lake Ontario with stops in: Boston, Portland, Vermont,
Montréal, Toronto and The Ranch (including three nights in JAIL and a hamburger from the first place to serve one!)
September 26th: EVENT: Spearhead LDSC’s 45th Anniversary BBQ, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. http://spearheadtoronto.com/
October 7th: Empire City MC's open general meeting is held the first Wednesday of the month at The Centre, 208 W 13th St, NYC. All
interested men and prospective members are welcome to attend. Check the posted schedule to see which room we’re in.
October 11th(Daytime): RIDE: Concrete Canyon Run
October 11th(Evening): Empire City MC’s 51st Anniversary Dinner. Speak to any ECMC member if you’d like an invitation to attend.
October 16th-18th: RIDE/EVENT: Harbour Masters’ Annual Run, Ogunquit, ME. http://www.harbormastersofmaine.com/
December 4th: BARNIGHT: Excelsior MC’s Annual Trim-A-Tree to be held at the Eagle NYC!
December 5th: Empire City MC’s 51st Annual Holiday Party & Toy Drive to benefit Leake & Watts. More information forthcoming!
January 16th 2016: BARNIGHT: Join ECMC at the new DC Eagle for an amazing and sexy barnight on Saturday night during the Centaur
MC’s Mid-Atlantic Leather Weekend! Mark your calendars now!
REMEMBER: There will be plenty of other events and rides added to our official calendar on a regular basis, especially day rides! Be sure
to bookmark our official calendar at http://calendar.EmpireCityMC.com and come along with us!
Empire City MC’s mailing address is:
Empire City MC
10 W 15th St, Suite 609
New York, NY 10011-6821
Are you interested in becoming a member of ECMC? For more information about
membership with Empire City Motorcycle Club, or to download our membership application,
constitution and bylaws, please click here.
Get in on the conversation! Click here to join our facebook group or go to
http://facebook.EmpireCityMC.com/
All material copyright ©MMXV Empire City MC, Inc., All rights reserved.